So Yall Want To Learn Toledo Bend?

[shaneus]

smoked them today, 5 fish for 12# better than a scratch for the first club tournament.....

[RonnieF]

Good job Shaneus, fished north or south?

[Catt]

It's on!!!

Seen a 3.86# lake record Spotted Bass!

[Express Kid]

Good job Shaneus. I am going in the morning to prefish for a March 1 tourney at pendelton bridge any ideas where to start south or mid lake?  Does anyone have any recomendations? i know the water has to be warmer the dirtier it is. I am hearing good reports from mid lake down. Thanks for the reports I am just looking for a starting point and trying to put a plan together. 

[Catt]

Good job Shaneus. I am going in the morning to prefish for a March 1 tourney at pendelton bridge any ideas where to start south or mid lake? Does anyone have any recomendations? i know the water has to be warmer the dirtier it is. I am hearing good reports from mid lake down. Thanks for the reports I am just looking for a starting point and trying to put a plan together.

1215

[shaneus]

1215 is huge, I went to the Christmas tree area the other day and chunked around a crankbait with no luck. I have a big fish takes all tournament this weekend up north and haven't had any luck pre fishing, hopefully I stumble into something or catch one big stupid fish

[shaneus]

Ill be on the lake tomorrow morning fishing in a black/grey/red basscat puma, wave me down if you see me and we'll compare notes, I'll be around the bridge, and north Toledo state park islands

[Bass_Fanatic]

Wish I was fishing tommorrow, but I blew the air compressor on my Pro XS last weekend and waiting for the new compressor to come in the mail.  Hope to be back on the Bend next Thursday thru Saturday.  Good luck Shaneus and Jerry!

[Express Kid]

Thanks guys. I will be in my red/white skeeter. Ill be looking for you shaneus. i guess i will launch at the state park or at Pendelton bridge. not sure yet.

[Express Kid]

I will let you know what i find Bass_Fanatic.

[six-mile C-Rig]

Hopefully for u guys this front doesn't turn off this awesome prespawn bite we've had the last few days...

My report from Wednesday. After the great day we had on tuesday we decided to run nee water and see if our pattern would hold up. Well it did. We fished from 9-4 and caught 18, 10 were keepers, biggest was 4.25.

Best 5 was 16lbs.

 

edit: I forgot to mention that all fish on Tuesday and Wednesday were caught in less than 6 FOW.

[shaneus]

Anyone want to trade north info for south info so I know where to start tomorrow 

[RonnieF]

I wish I could help out Shaneus, but my last trip up, 3 weeks ago, was horrible for me. I didn't catch a fish.

[Catt]

How far north ya wanna go?

I went far enough north I almost needed an Oklahoma license!

Clement Clark Branch: Hook-N-Look map, locate Insert A Upper part of the lake. We fished the areas marked #93 North River Bends. All I can say is cover a lot of water, no specific pattern other than spinner baits around brush/grass 4-8'; we caught 2-3, then nothing, then caught 2-3.

[scott m]

_{Well I fished Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Fished Housen flats and community hole mostly. Tried some other areas and didn't catch anything. We caught 8 Sunday , I fished by myself Monday and didn't catch any, Tuesday by myself caught 9  then a buddy came up and we caught about 10 Wednesday and about 10 Thursday. We actually caught a lot more but we don't count the little 10" fish. Biggest fish was a 7.25. Best bait was Toledo gold trap. All other fish were 1-3 #'s. Very happy with that trip and really love the lake, trying to go back asap.}

[bobfrogg]

Hey were can i get the H-N-L map !!

[scott m]

Ok leaving in the morning and going to fish till the front hits Tuesday, give yall a report when I get back.

[Catt]

Hey were can i get the H-N-L map !!

WalMart or Academy

[Bearonthewater]

Toledo Tackle sells the Hook N Line maps too.

[back water]

Lake Ray Roberts: Have any of you experts fished Lake Ray Roberts?? I have a tournament there in March and have never been on the lake. What kind of structure does it have??? Any vegetation?? How deep is it?? Water clarity?? ect., ect Thanks

[Bloodandguts]

Well guys, you got another newbie on this thing. I stumbled across the bass resource website by accident.  I've been reading this thread, from its beginning.  Its awesome to see group of men that aren't greedy and are willing to share their techniques and experience.  I go to the bend a few times a year, but this year I'm going to really try to become a better bass fisherman. My PB is 8 lb. I've spent most of my life in the GOM, chasing billfish, tuna, etc., so structure/bottom, I understand.  Like you, Catt, my dad taught me how to navigate and find reefs with a compass, a chart, and a loran unit.

 

My bass "education" began with fishing in the small ponds and lakes in Evangeline Parish, where I was born and raised.  My first bend experience was when I was ten years old. My godfather took me to fin and feathers.  We were bream fishing. I decided to throw out a rogue and caught a 2 pounder on the old zebco.  I've wanted to catch a double digit ever since.      

 

I've been studying the map and using my chart navigator to find the waypoints.  I'm headed to the pond on  Feb 28th with the family. I'll be launching at twin island and I plan to start at Lowe's and work my way south, concentrating on ridges, points, and humps near the river and major creeks.  My top three baits to start  will be:  jig and craw (blue/black), WMR lizard, and a crawfish colored crank.  Any other suggestions?

I've got a lot to learn, so I plan on trying to post each evening of my trip and maybe get a little feedback. Maybe I'll stumble on some fish and be able to help as well.

. 

Question: 1. I hear a lot about water temp and how that affects where the bass will be. I assume that is surface temp. I also assume that the water temp at 10 feet will be cooler. I am over thinking this?

                 2.  There are thousands of different bass baits out there...how do you choose?

                 3.  Catt, you advised to position the boat shallow (8-10 feet) and cast deep.  This time of year I assume when you catch one "staging", there are others in the area.  In that situation, should I anchor and really work the place over, or keep trolling.

 

Thanks,

Pat      

[Catt]

Welcome aboard

1. Don't over think it

2. Toledo Bend bass like plastics

3. 15' of water plus or minus 3'

4. Feb 28 th will still be pre-spawn which means bass will be shallow. Jig-n-craw, Texas rig lizard, spinner baits, & Rat-L-Trap

[cajunpapi]

Welcome, bloodandguts. You started  off right by reading the complete thread. Good questions, you will get your answers here.

[back water]

Welcome aboard bloodandguts!!!!!!!!

[scott m]

Today I fished the east side point at the entrance to Hurricane to the little creek to the east of there caught 2 very small on on a christmas tree senko and a very small one on a gold black back orange belly rouge. Went into what I think is the biggest creek in Indian mounds and caught 1 about 15" on gold trap. Left there and fished the first  creek south of Indian mounds and caught 1 about 14" on senko. Fished the south shore just down from Fin and Feather and caught 1 about 14" on carolina rigged watermelon red lizard.  Not a very good day. Dont know if because there wasnt any wind that maybe it was slow or I was just at bad spots. This is my third time at the lake so its hard to figure out if it was the day or my spots. I was here 4 days last week and went home for 3 days and came back. If any one has some basic info I really would appreciate it. I went to places today I had never been cause Im trying to learn the lake. I dont want to keep going to the same spots just cause I caught fish there last week. Trying to learn. Im staying in Jasper so I could launch in several areas. Think Im gonna try the six mile area tomorrow.

Thanks again to everyone,

Scott